Chapter 79, Jiang Ninghui: "Duo-ge'er..."

Before Jiang Ninghui could hide in Pei Duo's arms, a hurried voice came from outside the courtyard: "Young Master Zhao, I've finally found you! Quickly, come with me. The Minister has something important to discuss with you."

Zhao Zhixue didn't have time to enter the courtyard. He only vaguely caught a glimpse of a figure in the dark courtyard. Before he could take a closer look, his gaze was drawn to the person next to him. He was quite puzzled: "Do you know why the Minister wants to see me?"

The man said, "This servant doesn't know. Young Master Zhao, you should come with me."

Zhao Zhixue: "Wait a moment, I'll be right there."

After speaking, he pushed open the half-open courtyard gate and entered the courtyard. Just then, he saw Pei Duo coming out of the house. Zhao Zhixue glanced at the house next door, which was dark inside. He asked in a low voice, "Brother Pei, has my wife gone to sleep?"

Pei Duo: "They must have gone to sleep."

Zhao Zhixue: "Brother Pei, you're back so early?"

Pei Duo glanced at him coldly: "It's already past midnight."

Zhao Zhixue felt somewhat embarrassed, and then he heard Pei Di say, "Brother Zhao and Miss Li—"

"Shhh."

Zhao Zhixue quickly gestured to Pei Duo, telling him not to mention this matter in the courtyard.

He lowered his voice: "Brother Pei, I came back this time to ask you for a favor."

Pei Duo: "What is it?"

Zhao Zhixue glanced at the dark room and whispered, "I hope Brother Pei will not mention my affair with Lady Li in front of my wife. I know I have wronged her. I will tell my wife myself after the palace examination. In the meantime, please keep this a secret for me."

The young man's dark eyes were filled with mockery.

He saw through his ruse: "Brother Zhao, are you worried that your sister-in-law will find out about your affair with Miss Li and cause a scene, which will affect your imperial examination?"

Zhao Zhixue bowed to Pei Duo, then lowered his head in embarrassment: "Yes. So, I'm entrusting this to you, Brother Pei. You've helped me this time, and I will do my best to fulfill any of your requests in the future."

"Young Master Zhao, hurry up, don't keep the Minister waiting too long."

Urging voices came from outside, and Zhao Zhixue bowed to Pei Duo again, saying, "Brother Pei, I'm entrusting this to you."

After saying that, he straightened up and hurriedly left the courtyard.

Pei Duo turned around, pushed open the door, and looked at the woman sitting in the chair.

He had just coaxed her to stop crying, but now, two more tears streamed down her face.

The young man walked over, squatted down beside Jiang Ninghui's legs, and held her soft hand, which was resting on her lap, in his palm: "Sister-in-law, you heard everything, didn't you?"

Everyone heard it...

Not a single word was missed.

Every word pierced her heart.

Jiang Ninghui pulled her hand back and covered her face, sobs escaping from between her fingers.

It turns out that the young master returned at this time only to get rid of Pei Duo and prevent him from telling Li Niangzi about his affair.

The young man was afraid that she would make a scene and affect his chances of passing the imperial examination.

He said he would personally inform her after the palace examination was over.

How will he inform her? Will he divorce her? Or will he give her a divorce decree?

Her wrist was grabbed and pulled down, exposing Jiang Ninghui's tear-streaked face to Pei Duo.

The young man cupped her cheeks and gently wiped away her tears.

He said, "Don't cry, the more you cry, the more my heart aches."

The mushy words coming from the handsome young man made Jiang Ninghui feel ashamed. Before the tears in her eyes could fall, they were sucked away by the young man's lips. Now she couldn't even cry. She felt ticklish and embarrassed by his kisses.

As midnight approached, Jiang Ninghui lay down on the couch, but tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

She frequently glanced at the empty space beside her.

She had been in the capital for over a month, but had seen her husband very few times.

Every night, she was almost always alone.

Jiang Ninghui kept thinking about her husband's words: "After the palace examination, I will personally tell my wife."

Just as Sister Mu said, he will abandon her after achieving success and fame.

At that time, she felt that Sister Mu was exaggerating too much and did not believe that her husband was that kind of person.

But now, the truth has slapped her hard in the face.

Jiang Ninghui got out of bed and rummaged through the bottom corner of the wardrobe to find the money pouch she had hidden in her clothes. Inside were more than twenty taels of silver, which was the money she had saved up from sewing sachets over the past year.

This was her hidden savings, and her only means of support for the rest of her life.

If that day truly comes, and she cannot beg her husband to keep her, this will be her last resort.

At that time, she will have no choice but to take the money and find a place where no one knows her, so that she will not be criticized or scorned.

Jiang Ninghui wiped away her tears, tied up the money bag, and hid it in the bottom corner of the wardrobe.

Every slight movement she made reached Pei Duo's ears next door.

My sister-in-law is still awake.

She opened the wardrobe, she was counting the silver, and she was crying.

The young man lowered his eyes, looking at the beaded and gilded begonia hairpin in his hand, the hairpin still retaining the fragrance of the woman's hair.

He gave this hairpin to his sister-in-law.

But my sister-in-law doesn't want to.

She refused to accept him because he was not her husband.

No rush.

It will be soon.

Jiang Ninghui didn't fall asleep until late at night, and then slept until the sun was high in the sky.

Days passed by.

After she saw her beloved by the window during the lake cruise that night, he remained missing for ten days until he finally returned four days before the imperial examination.

Looking at Zhao Zhixue, whom she hadn't seen for eleven days, Jiang Ninghui felt no longer the initial joy and dependence, only a faint bitterness and indifference.

For these eleven days, the young master has probably been with Lady Li every single day.

That day, when Lady Li kissed him while they were boating on the lake, the shock and joy in his eyes were something she had never seen before.

She still remembers it vividly to this day.

Zhao Zhixue entered the room, glanced at Jiang Ninghui who was sitting on the edge of the couch with her head down, and said in an extremely cold tone: "I have been studying at the residence of the Minister of Rites these days to prepare for the palace examination, so I haven't had time to come back. How have you been at home these days, my wife? Is the money I left for you enough?"

Jiang Ninghui slowly raised her head and looked at Zhao Zhixue sitting at the table.

As if sensing her gaze, Zhao Zhixue looked at her and heard her say, "That's enough."

Zhao Zhixue: "Enough is fine."

After saying that, he pulled the unfinished book from the table and continued reading.

He returned this time to ask his brother Pei if he could have another copy of the article, but it seemed that his brother Pei was not at home.

When he returned, he tentatively asked him.

A pair of hands gently massaged his shoulders, causing Zhao Zhixue's body to tense for a moment before relaxing.

Jiang Ninghui massaged his shoulders. She looked down at the clothes her husband was wearing. He had changed into a new set of clothes, not the ones he had brought from home. The fabric of the clothes was very fine, and different from the ones he had worn on the day he went boating on the lake.

But none of them were items that the young master could afford.

So, where did the clothes on the young master come from?

Was it given to him by Lady Li? Or by the Minister of Rites?

Jiang Ninghui's fingertips touched the smooth, silky fabric as she softly asked, "How have you been staying at the Minister's residence these past few days, my lord?"

Zhao Zhixue: "It's good."

Jiang Ninghui: "My lord hasn't returned these past few days, nor has he brought any change of clothes. Is he wearing the Minister's clothes?"

Zhao Zhixue's expression was full of annoyance, and he casually replied, "Hmm."

Jiang Ninghui smiled and said, "The Minister treats my husband so well."

Zhao Zhixue suddenly brushed away Jiang Ninghui's hand, causing Jiang Ninghui to almost fall to the ground with her hands suddenly empty. She pursed her lips and quietly looked at Zhao Zhixue, who turned his head and looked at her with an impatient expression.

She heard him say, "Aren't you annoying? As soon as I get back, you start asking me all sorts of questions. Can't you let me read in peace for a while?!"

Jiang Ninghui's fingertips, hidden in her sleeve, gradually curled up.

She just stared at her husband, with whom she had spent a year, day and night.

Watching him go from loving and caring for her at the beginning to being cold and indifferent to her now.

He treated her one way, but treated Li Niangzi differently.

Jiang Ninghui's gaze inexplicably made Zhao Zhixue feel a little guilty. He looked away, closed the book, and said, "I'm going out for a walk. I'll be back later."

Jiang Ninghui watched her husband leave without looking back.

The question that had been brewing in my mind for so long—"How will you treat me after the imperial examination?"—was never uttered.

Zhao Zhixue returned in the afternoon and saw that Pei Duo's door was open as soon as he entered.

He hesitated for a moment, then walked to the front of the house and chatted with Pei Duo.

The young man held the book but didn't look at him, only casually glancing at him with a word or two.

Seeing him like this, Zhao Zhixue felt a surge of jealousy and humiliation at having to read other people's faces.

Just because he's the nephew of a high-ranking official, he has the power that others could never attain in their entire lives. What makes him think he's superior? He's nothing but a despicable and shameless scoundrel. If it weren't for his uncle, how could he know the exam questions every time?!

If he had a maternal uncle who held a high-ranking position, then today, his and Pei Duo's identities would have been reversed.

But the one who feels humiliated and embarrassed today is not him, but Pei Duo!

Zhao Zhixue felt both resentment and resentment, yet he was helpless.

He couldn't afford to offend Pei Duo, and even the Minister of Rites, who held a third-rank position, dared not offend Pei Duo.

He once asked the Minister who Pei Duo's uncle was. The Minister only said that he would know when the time was right. He also asked Li Fu indirectly, and Li Fu told him that the man had a close relationship with the current emperor.

Zhao Zhixue immediately understood.

It was then that he fully realized that he might be overshadowed by Pei Duo for the rest of his life.

Zhao Zhixue secretly wished he could take Pei Duo's life with his own hands, but on the surface he smiled ingratiatingly: "Why doesn't Brother Pei stay at your uncle's house? This small courtyard is remote and cramped, and the surroundings are noisy and chaotic, which is very detrimental to studying."

Pei Duo turned a page of his book: "I am a candidate for the imperial examination. It is not appropriate for me to stay at my uncle's residence, lest others think that I am abusing my power to cheat."

The three sentences were like invisible slaps, landing hard on Zhao Zhixue's face.

Zhao Zhixue felt that Pei Duo was subtly mocking him. They were both candidates for the imperial examination, but he lived in the residence of the Minister of Rites, who was in charge of the examination, every day. If he passed the palace examination, those who knew that he lived in the Minister's residence would probably think that he had achieved his success by cheating.

Zhao Zhixue felt embarrassed that his self-esteem had been so nakedly stripped and crushed underfoot, but he couldn't argue or refute Pei Duo.

He had originally intended to ask him for the article, but now it seemed that Pei Duo might not give it to him.

In order to successfully enter the top three in the palace examination, Zhao Zhixue still shamelessly asked for help, only to be told by Pei Duo that he had not written an essay and was not sure what the palace examination would test. Zhao Zhixue's face turned pale and his resentment intensified.

How could Pei Duo not know!

He just didn't want to give it to him!

He's already helped him time and time again, why not help him one more time?!

But then Zhao Zhixue realized something.

There are only three spots in the Palace Examination: the top three scholars (状元, 榜眼, 探花). More than 300 candidates have taken the provincial examination, and most of them are aiming for the top three spots. Even if they don't pass, they can still become Jinshi (进士).

But he can't!

He must pass the imperial examination and be among the top three in the palace!

Pei Duo must be afraid that he would compete with him for a spot in the top three of the palace examination, which is why he is not helping him!

Li Fu had told him that if he wanted to marry her, there were two conditions. First, he had to pass the imperial examination and be ranked among the top three in the palace. If so, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review would not make things too difficult for him, given his status as a top-ranking official. Li Fu could then speak to the Minister, and the marriage would be arranged. The second condition was that he could not have a wife at home.

The second condition is easy to handle: once the palace examination is over, just give Jiang Ninghui a letter of divorce and that's it.

However, the first condition was quite difficult for him.

Since Pei Duo's approach was unsuccessful, Zhao Zhixue could only pin his hopes on the Minister of Rites, hoping to learn from him the questions to be asked in the upcoming palace examination.

Zhao Zhixue did not linger, nor did he dare to break ties with Pei Duo. He only chatted with him casually for a few more minutes before leaving the courtyard. He did not return for three days. Jiang Ninghui waited at home every day, but Zhao Zhixue did not return until the day before the palace examination.

That day, the restaurant waiter brought lunch.

Since moving to Longchang and into Pei Duo's residence, Jiang Ninghui has never cooked again.

Even after arriving in Kyoto, where restaurant staff delivered meals daily, she never had the chance to cook.

Jiang Ninghui was led into the kitchen by Pei Duo. She watched as the young man took out the food from the food box and placed it on the table. She took the chopsticks that the young man handed her, put down the chopsticks, and took the initiative to serve Pei Duo a bowl of porridge and place it in front of him.

The young man looked up, his dark eyes fixed on her.

Jiang Ninghui felt a little embarrassed by his gaze.

She lowered her head and asked softly in a gentle voice, "The palace examination is tomorrow. When are you leaving today?"

Pei Duo: "We won't leave today, we'll leave at 2:45 AM tonight."

Jiang Ninghui: "Don't let the restaurant staff deliver your food tonight. How about I cook you a meal instead?"

This meal was probably the last one she cooked for Pei Duo.

After the palace examination ended, she and Pei Duo went their separate ways.

Thinking of this, Jiang Ninghui felt a dense, stabbing pain in her heart, the pain spreading from her heart like vines. She quickly lowered her head to drink porridge, trying to suppress the inexplicable dull pain and discomfort rising in her heart.

Pei Duo: "Alright, we'll do as you say, sister-in-law."

Jiang Ninghui didn't look up, but asked softly, "What do you want to eat?"

Pei Duo: "The meat soup dumplings made by my sister-in-law."

Jiang Ninghui nodded gently: "I understand."

After lunch, Jiang Ninghui took out several dozen coins from the wardrobe, intending to go to the street to buy some meat and noodles herself. Pei Duo went with her, but she did not let Pei Duo pay. She insisted on paying for the ingredients herself and returned to the courtyard. As soon as she entered the door, she went into the kitchen to start kneading and fermenting the dough.

Pei Duo did not allow her to touch the knife.

He cut the meat and vegetables as she requested, and even did the work of burning firewood.

Tonight is the last night before the imperial examination, and Zhao Zhixue still hasn't returned. Only she and Pei Duo are at the kitchen table.

After dinner, Pei Duo didn't let Jiang Ninghui do anything, and personally collected the dishes and took them to the stove to wash.

Jiang Ninghui sat at the table, staring blankly at the young man's tall and straight back.

From childhood to adulthood, cooking and washing dishes were her daily chores, and no one had ever helped her, not even her husband. But Pei Duo helped her time and time again.

Since they met, he had saved her and helped her many times, even acting as a matchmaker for her, enabling her to earn several dozen taels of silver. Putting aside his feelings for her, she had no way to repay these kindnesses.

Such a perfect young man deserves a brighter future and should marry a noblewoman of equal social standing, instead of staying with her in this cramped and remote courtyard, living a life of poverty.

She heard everything he said to her husband that day.

He lived in this small courtyard not because he was afraid others would think he was abusing his power, but because he was keeping her company.

She understands everything.

But she couldn't say it.

She no longer cares whether her fiancé will pass the imperial examination; these things are irrelevant to her now.

Regardless of whether her fiancé passes the imperial examination or not, she will be abandoned.

"What are you thinking about?"

The hand resting on her lap was enveloped in the young man's warm, damp hands. His clear, pleasant voice brought Jiang Ninghui back to her senses. She looked at Pei Duo, who was squatting beside her, the dim light casting shadows on the young man's handsome face.

She withdrew her hand and gently cupped Pei Duo's face, his delicate features illuminated by the light and shadow revealing a tender smile.

Pei Duo froze, his dark pupils scrutinizing the woman's beautiful features.

Having spent a year with her, she had never held his face so intimately, nor looked at him with such tender and affectionate eyes.

Something touched his heart, and a strong, irrepressible joy surged through his limbs. His gaze trembled as he ensnared her, as if trying to tighten his grip on her, to pull her into his body, and to fit her perfectly into his.

Hold her tight, cling to her.

He wanted her to become one with him, inside and out.

Pei Duo couldn't bear to ruin this beautiful moment, so he tilted his head slightly and gently rubbed his cheek against the woman's warm palm.

Jiang Ninghui gently stroked the young man's cheek and asked, "Are you nervous about the palace examination tomorrow?"

Pei Duo looked at her and said, "Don't be nervous."

Jiang Ninghui smiled, her beautiful eyes softening considerably: "I wish that Duoge'er will pass the imperial examination tomorrow and achieve top honors."

This was the first time Jiang Ninghui had called him affectionately—"Duo Ge'er".

He still remembered that she had said those words to her husband a year ago.

Now, the person she blesses is him.

Pei Duo raised his hand and pressed it against the back of her hand, then turned his head and gently kissed her palm: "Sister-in-law, are you waiting for me to come home?"

Jiang Ninghui nodded gently: "Okay."

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Author's Note: There's a red envelope in this chapter! Update will be before 6 PM tomorrow! [Sprinkling flowers]